As multiple blazes burn across California, the Bay Area is facing increased fire risk this week, the National Weather Service warned Monday. Meteorologist Rick Canepa said inland parts of Northern California โ where grass and brush have dried out in the summer heat โ will be particularly vulnerable amid low humidity and winds up to 40 mph during the afternoon and evening hours through Friday.
โWeโll be watching the parameters closely,โ he said, especially in interior counties that are far from the typical reach of the San Francisco Bayโs marine layer. โThe East Bay hills, down across the southern interior, areas farther inland into Napa County [and] northernmost Sonoma County [are] far removed from any coastal influence so that the conditions have dried out.โ In inland Lake County, just north of Napa and Sonoma, an โerraticโ blaze broke out Sunday afternoon, spreading rapidly through dry brush and grass for multiple hours before firefighters halted forward progress just after 6 p.m.
The Lake Fire grew to 400 acres, prompting evacuation orders for more than 3,380 people who reside there. Those orders were downgraded to warnings on Sunday night, and by Monday morning, all evacuation warnings were lifted. The blaze is 40% contained. One structure was destroyed. One firefighter was taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries, according to Cal Fireโs SonomaโLakeโNapa unit.
